The Beatles Yellow Submarine

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of George Dunning’s 1968 animated fantasia, Yellow Submarine, this pop-Dali adventure tells the full story of how the Beatles saved a magical land from some music-hating no-goodniks. The people of Pepperland lived lives “overflowing with wonderful things” due to all the peace, love, and music filling their park-like paradise. But when the Blue Meanies (to whom music is like “acid rain”) launch an assault of “anti-music missiles” and color-annihilating “splotch bombs,” it’s up to Lord Admiral Fred to man the Yellow Submarine and seek help. Landing in Liverpool, Fred meets four Beatle-like moptops with a penchant for quippy dialogue and assisting strangers. They embark on an trippy, cross-dimensional odyssey; meet little blue wordsmith Jeremy; and ultimately return to Pepperland to play “a groovy tune” and vanquish the Blue Meanies. The art style is designed to mimic the original, and just what one would imagine: wavy lines, proto–Terry Gilliam collaging, and a Hippie Britannica visual scheme that resembles a mural made by Peter Max after spending too much time on Carnaby Street. Former Disney and The Simpsons artist Morrison splashes out several rainbows’ worth of pleasing colors for this happy ode to harmless psychedelia that perfectly captures the movie’s stoned punning and rippling anti-authoritarianism. The breezy tribute takes one strange trip down memory lane for the band’s myriad fans. (Aug.)